Garden Planner: September

Care For Camellias
This month camellias begin setting flower buds for winter bloom. To prevent buds from turning brown and falling, give these handsome plants regular water, especially during a heat wave. To encourage bud growth, feed with a 2-10-10 fertilizer now through January. While some bud drop occurs naturally, some camellia fans disbud to encourage larger blooms. Twist off buds so that one or two, preferably facing outward, are left at the tip of each stem. Be certain one of those left behind is the pointed growth bud; the flower buds tend to be round. 

 
Visit a Garden Gallery
The annual “Sculpture in the Garden” show at the San Diego Botanic Garden is an ideal opportunity to view the work of top area artists in a sylvan setting. This year’s show, which runs through April 15, 2013, showcases work in various media and sizes by 24 artists selected by curator Naomi Nussbaum of Art & Design. A free map leads visitors on a self-guided tour through SDBG’s bamboo, succulent and tropical gardens where work by Amos Robinson, Benjamin Lavender, Cheryl Tall and Mary Buckman, among others, are on display. All the pieces are for sale and the show is free with admission to the garden.

Take a Class
After a year’s hiatus, when they debuted the highly successful “Autumn in the Garden Tour and Market,” San Diego Master Gardeners’ popular fall home garden seminar returns on Oct. 6. This year’s theme, “Garden to Table,” spotlights urban farming with 15 classes ranging from garden design to backyard goat herding, mushroom culture and appetizing ways to use your harvest from three local chefs. All are taught by area experts and UC-trained Master Gardeners. Popular classes fill quickly, so early registration is suggested. Set at St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center in El Cajon, the daylong event also includes the sale of succulents and other plants raised by the center’s students. 

And Don’t Forget To:
Chill hybrid tulip, hyacinth and crocus bulbs in the refrigerator for six to eight weeks prior to planting later in the year. 
Remove wind-damaged tree branches according to a diagram in The New Sunset Western Garden Book to minimize damage to the tree trunk and promote healing.
Feed and move Christmas cactus into bright light to encourage holiday blooming.
Begin adding aluminum sulfate to the soil around hydrangeas for blue flowers in the spring.
Protect seedlings for fall vegetables and annual flowers from hot sun by placing them under shade cloth or in dappled shade. Keep evenly moist during Santa Anas.
Remove spent warm-season vegetables and renew the soil with organic matter for planting cool-season crops next month. 

Garden Planner: By Mary James